" “Vacancy rates will rise, but will peak at lower levels than those seen in either of the last two downturns.” The central London vacancy rate rose throughout the year due to development completions rather than tenant returns.  "

" 2009 is set to become a tenants’ market as more attractive terms become available. Take-up at the end of 2008 was a buoyant 993,001 sq ft (wider CBD take up totals 1,037,012 sq ft). These figures are the most impressive take-up figures since 2001.  "

" “Serviced apartments, a real alternative to hotels and residential” 3,400 known serviced apartment units are in the planning pipeline, the bulk of which are in London. Combined with existing units this will bring total supply in the UK to just over 10,500 units.                        "

" Tenants are set to benefit as more attractive terms become available in 2009. Lack of rental growth and concerns about tenant default are rising to the fore as reasons to delay acquisitions. However, we are of the view that sterling as a currency is significantly oversold, which presents a positive position for non-domestic investors.    "

" “The Edinburgh office market is better placed than other financial centres to weather the current downturn.” We expect availability to rise in 2009 as a result of both tenant returns and development completions. However, in 2010 and beyond the development pipeline is very constrained and this should provide the driver for a recovery in Grade A office rents in Edinburgh.  "

" The period of exceptional growth in values appears to have come to an end. Although average farmland values across Great Britain increased last year, the g rowth was confined to the first half. It is worth noting that values continued to vary considerably across the market, the highlights of which are included in this report."

" Tenants set to benefit in 2009 as more attractive terms become available. Declining business confidence, on the back of worsening economic conditions, stifled occupational demand throughout the final quarter of 2008.  "

" Current economic conditions have meant that on the whole occupiers are unwilling to pay more to occupy more sustainable buildings. If anything they are thinking twice about taking any new space as occupational demand is forecasted to be muted over the short-term. This is not to say that sustainability is now on the back burner. If anything being more energy efficient has become more of an issue for occupiers as companies become more prudent about expenditure and look at ways to cut costs. "

" Given the outlook for the economy, it is no surprise that, on the whole, sentiment remains weak. However, given the extraordinary rate of price falls, affordability has been rapidly restored. There are even whispers that the point at which residential property appears good value is in sight, an acknowledgement that, given the circumstances which have propagated the downturn, the market will overcorrect on affordability measures before a recovery is possible. "

" The Birmingham occupational market has shown resilience during the first three quarters of 2008. The Professional sector has dominated take-up, accounting for 51% of the space occupied. This can be, in part, attributed to a 256,000 sq ft deal at Snowhill to Wragge & Co.  "